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Lolita the orca dies at Miami Seaquarium after half-century in captivity

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

MIAMI (AP/WSVN) — Lolita, an orca whale held captive for more than a half-century, died Friday at the Miami Seaquarium as caregivers prepared to move her from the theme park in the near future.The Seaquarium posted on social media that Lolita — also known as Tokitae, or Toki — started exhibiting serious signs of discomfort over the past two days. Seaquarium and Friends of Toki medical team began treating immediately and aggressively, but the 57-year-old orca died from an apparent renal condition, the social media post said.“Toki was an inspiration to all who had the fortune to hear her story and especially to the Lummi nation that considered her family,” the Seaquarium post said. “Those who have had the privilege to spend time with her will forever remember her beautiful spirit.”https://twitter.com/MiamiSeaquarium/status/1692648250589798467?s=20Animal righ...

Crews put out house fire in North Lauderdale

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

A North Lauderdale home went up in smoke with flames shooting through the roof.Cellphone footage captured thick black smoke and flames towering over the residence along the 700 block of Southwest 76th Avenue, Friday morning.The smoke could be seen from half a block away,Firefighters sprang into action as they attempted to douse the ferocious flames.Witness Ralph Baptiste shared his own reaction.“I was in my backyard, until I heard sirens come out,” he said. “I went to the front, and then I seen this big smoke, you know, flames and black clouds.”A charred mess was left behind toward the rear of the home.Officials said the fire started in the kitchen and quickly spread. Luckily, everyone made it out safe and sound.No injuries were reported.

Video shows Fort Lauderdale Police employee accused of killing girlfriend surrendering to Coral Springs Police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

Surveillance video shows a detention officer for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department who is accused in the fatal shooting of his girlfriend as he surrendered to police.The security footage, obtained exclusively by 7News, captured Chase Harder, wearing a red tank top and dark colored shorts, as he entered the lobby of the Coral Springs Police Department, late Tuesday night.Police said Harder, 21, confessed to shooting and killing his girlfriend in front of his 3-year-old daughter.The surveillance video showed Harder sitting down next to the entrance of the lobby as he talked on the phone.“Do me a favor: stand up and put the phone down. Do it now,” an officer is heard saying in the video.The suspect complied and stood up with his hands up.“Turn around and face away from me. Take three steps back,” the officer said.Moments later, several police officers with their guns drawn approached Harder, put him in handcuffs and took him away.Detectives identified the vi...

WATCH: Sky7-HD shows extensive storm damage after multiple tornadoes across New England

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

Severe storms tore through southern New England Friday morning, with multiple tornadoes confirmed in North Attleboro, Mansfield, Weymouth and Scituate, Rhode Island.Sky7-HD was over Johnston, Rhode Island, showing a destroyed home missing part of the structure. A swimming pool at a nearby home was filled with heavy tables, chairs, an umbrella and patio furniture. Workers were also spotted in bucket trucks working on the downed power lines. The tornado in Scituate, Rhode Island took down a large tree, seen here laying across the top of a red building. Another aerial shot from the area shows all the trees surrounding a house snapped in half.The strong winds also stripped on shingles and damaged many roofs in the area. The National Weather Service also confirmed a tornado in Massachusetts, where crews were seen using chainsaws to chop up fallen trees. In Mansfield, a house was spared despite several trees fallen in the yard and in the nearby area.As on Friday evenin...

Yankees Notebook: Anthony Rizzo not considering shutdown, showing quicker reaction times

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

Asked if he had a checkup on Thursday, Anthony Rizzo said, “I don’t remember.”“That’s funny, right?” the joking Yankee followed up. Rizzo has been on the injured list since Aug. 3 due to post-concussion syndrome.In all seriousness, Rizzo has been feeling better and waking up normally lately. He’s also been working out and planned on hitting in the cage Friday for the first time since being sidelined.The first baseman added that recent tests have continued to show improved reaction times. He wasn’t sure if his were above normal levels, as he and doctors never had a baseline for him, “But they’re definitely just better than what they were,” Rizzo said. “They’re in more the percentile, I would say, of what we think they should be in, and that’s all good stuff. The biggest thing is just feeling better on a day-to-day basis.“All signs are pointing towards quicker, faster, sharper.”The Yankees ...

John Sexton thrilled to be leading Central Catholic’s football program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

LAWRENCE — Even as the rain poured down, John Sexton was all smiles.On Thursday morning, under the leadership of first-year head coach John Sexton, Central Catholic joined dozens of other MIAA programs across the state in beginning football practice ahead of the 2023 season.The sight was an unfamiliar one to those who have followed the Massachusetts high school football scene for the last two decades. Beginning in 1997, Chuck Adamopoulos manned the sidelines as the Raiders’ head coach, winning three Super Bowls before stepping down following the 2022 season. Sexton was beside Adamopoulos for all but two of four seasons, joining the Central Catholic staff in 2001 before taking over as offensive coordinator in 2011.“To say I’ve been excited for our first practice is an understatement,” Sexton said. “The offseason training and 7-on-7 the kids do is all great, but there is something special about the first day of practice with everyone out here.”Sexto...

Powerful Hurricane Hilary heads for Mexico’s Baja. Rare tropical storm watch issued for California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

By MARK STEVENSON and JULIE WATSON (Associated Press)MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Hilary churned off Mexico’s Pacific coast Friday as a powerful Category 4 storm threatening to unleash torrential rains on the mudslide-prone border city of Tijuana before heading into Southern California as the first tropical storm there in 84 years. Forecasters warned the storm could cause extreme flooding, mudslides and even tornadoes across the region.Hillary grew rapidly in strength early Friday before losing some steam in the afternoon, with sustained winds falling from 145 mph (230 kph) to 130 mph (215 kph). Nevertheless, it was forecast to still be a hurricane when approaching Mexico’s Baja California peninsula on Saturday night and a tropical storm when approaching Southern California on Sunday.No tropical storm has made landfall in Southern California since Sept. 25, 1939, according to the National Weather Service. The watch was posted for a wide swath of Southern California...

Caesars Sportsbook drops retail sports betting deal with Raynham Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

Caesars Sportsbook pulled out of a deal to run a retail sportsbook at Raynham Park just as regulators were in the process of reviewing the race track’s bid for a sports betting license, regulators said.Caesars Sportsbook notified the Massachusetts Gaming Commission it has terminated an agreement with the Massasoit Greyhound Association, the company behind Raynham Park, to open a retail location at the former greyhound track, Gaming Commission Interim Executive Director Todd Grossman said.“Caesars Sportsbook has terminated the operating lease agreement that was in place between MGA and Caesars,” Grossman said. “That agreement set out the terms and conditions under which Caesars would essentially operate the sportsbook if MGA were to be awarded the category two license. As a result of that termination, as of today, MGA is without an entity to operate the sportsbook.”Caesars sportsbook already runs a mobile sports betting application through an agreement w...

Chief says excavation of Manitoba church basement found no evidence of human remains

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

MINEGOZIIBE ANISHINABE — No evidence of human remains has been found during the excavation of a Catholic church basement on the site of a former Manitoba residential school. Chief Derek Nepinak of Minegoziibe Anishinabe shared the results of the four-week excavation in a social media video Friday. He said the outcome takes “nothing away from the difficult truths experienced by our families who attended the residential school in Pine Creek.”Fourteen anomalies were detected using ground-penetrating radar in the basement of the church on the site of the former Pine Creek Residential School last year. Survivors had spoken about “horror stories” in the basement.The First Nation, northwest of Winnipeg, hired an archeological team from the University of Brandon to do the excavation earlier this summer. It is the same team that assists police on archeological digs and excavations in the province. “As a community we were preparing for more than one possible outcome, which meant we would prep...

A timeline of events related to wildfire threat in the Okanagan, B.C.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

WEST KELOWNA, B.C. — Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate from West Kelowna and the Westbank First Nation due to the nearby MacDougall Creek wildfire, which has destroyed a significant number of properties. Here is a timeline of events related to the threat, according to information provided by the Central Okanagan Regional District.Tuesday, 6 p.m.: The MacDougall Creek wildfire is discovered 10 km northwest of West Kelowna.Wednesday, 10 p.m.: An emergency operations centre is activated in response to the fire, with 4,800 homes in West Kelowna put on evacuation alert. The fire measures less than one square kilometre.Thursday, 1:25 p.m.: A local state of emergency is issued for the City of West Kelowna, part of Westbank First Nation and the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area. The MacDougall Creek wildfire grows to three square kilometres. Evacuation alerts expand to 5,700 homes. An evacuation order is issued for 68 properties. Thursday, 3:08 p.m.: Evacuation alerts are...